Be a Professional Who Volunteers

Your skill set is needed in your community to help support nonprofits (NGOs) and smaller organizations that are making a difference in our communities by serving the marginalized and those that need a helping hand. When we volunteer, donate, or give of our time, talents, and treasures we are creating healthier communities whereby everyone will benefit.

Volunteering is defined as

- a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service

-?taking your skills and sharing them with others who benefit from your skill set

- building connections that empower others in powerful ways

- ordinary people taking Extraordinary Action

What does a volunteer look like?

There is no set profile. However, volunteers are people who CARE

They care about kids

They care about animals

They care about the environment

They care about education

They care about the homeless

They care about…__________

What do you care about? Do you find value in helping others? If you care and you find value in serving others, then by all means- volunteer.

If you are an accountant, volunteer to set up the financial books for a nonprofit.

If you are a hair stylist, volunteer to give free haircuts during the holidays to underserved boys and girls

If you are a mechanic, help a single mom by donating your time to make small repairs to her car

If you are a teacher, volunteer to tutor at a boys/girls club

Or

You can choose to volunteer at a place where your skills are not needed but your smile, words of encouragement, and manpower could make all the difference in your community. Opportunities abound in our community to serve we just need to look for them. Below are just a few examples:

?? Serving at a food pantry

?? Serving at a nursing home

?? Serving at a homeless shelter

?? Serving at a hospital

?? Serving at a prison?

Value in volunteering?

The values I have personally experienced while volunteering include, but are not limited to the following:

- the joy felt inside when I help to make a difference

- making connections that expand outside of my professional network

- paying it forward, knowing that others have helped me along my journey

- creating a healthier environment for everyone to enjoy

- modeling and teaching my kids and grandkids the importance of volunteering

- learning more about myself (pushing myself in new areas of life)

- helping school children to know about the accounting profession and sharing my story

- volunteering with my coworkers in the community is very powerful, and rewarding and builds stronger teams

- as a faithful volunteer at a nonprofit a door was opened for me to become a board member of that nonprofit

- volunteering may not always be easy but it is worth it?

Lastly, one factor in volunteering that is readily apparent with every volunteer experience- “the need” is great and may appear to be never-ending. However, as the saying goes- How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Remember to just start to volunteer and then you keep going and going.

Challenge your firm, company, or department to volunteer as a group and you will quickly learn that the teamwork provided in your community by volunteering will certainly impact the comradery and culture when you return to the office. The power of your time is priceless and when you give of your time while volunteering it really does enrich the other areas of your life, not just at your workplace.?Volunteering is a win-win experience because your life is enriched and so are the lives of the people you serve.

Feel free to contact me at?www.bizeempower.org?or DM me on LinkedIn if you wish to learn more about-?Be a Professional Who Volunteers. Being a professional is so much more fruitful when you think about others by giving of your time, talents, and treasures. This is an important topic that is covered in my Business English program which will certainly add value to your career journey.

Interview impact-

(Strategy?#7)

Why would you like to work at our firm?

I’d love to work here because I__________

Being prepared to answer this question is a great way to insert many of your experiences or qualifications that reinforce why you are a match for the company.

I’d love to work here because I have over 5 years of experience working with the XYZ accounting system that your company will be adding, and I would bring valuable insight to the changeover.

I’d love to work here because I value a work environment that collaborates and provide the freedom to add value to projects (to think outside of the box with fresh ideas).

These are just a few examples of ways to respond to this question while making a good impression in your interview.